4 . Rising costs mean many of us are having to cut back on our spending.     1    However, like any food diet, it’s easy to fall back into the previous condition. Then all that work and sacrifice may go down the drain. So how do you avoid messing up all your good work?

The less you have of something, the more you’re likely to desire it, give in and layout a large fortune. And often these treats can be costly.     2    Say it could be a piece of cake rather than a coat, or an off-peak cinema trip rather than a big meal out.

We often spend in isolation. What I mean here is that we look at the cost of something and compare it with prices of similar products on the shopping list. For example, £3 on a coffee each day might seem insignificant. But if you work out what the money spent could provide elsewhere, you might rethink your choices. Let’s say you need £300 for a holiday, and six months of not buying a coffee could save you the money for your trip. Will you change your mind?

    4    A takeaway is the perfect example. All you need to do is switch on your cellphone and tapa few buttons. But it is so expensive. Yet the opposite of this isn’t necessarily cooking from scratch. You can prepare for those lazy evenings by cooking in advance and freezing the leftovers. You only need to defrost a few portions when it’s time to eat.

Many think of Amazon’s membership scheme as a money saver—and it does sometimes offer extra discounts. But don’t forget you have paid for this already with the £79 annual fee and the “free” delivery can actually remove an important barrier when shopping     5    .

6 . Growing up in a Southern family, big meals were the norm. Every meal for my nuclear family of four provided enough food for eight. Each Sunday, when we drove to my grandmother’s home for lunch, there was more than enough food.     1     Having more than enough was a generous and affectionate act; having too little conveyed almost a moral failing.

    2     When having only another couple over for dinner, I’d make more food than the four of us could finish. My wife always asked me to make less both to save money and because our tiny fridge could hold only so many leftovers.     3    

When I lost my job, though, my handling of extra food suddenly hit a barrier.     4     However, I then quickly went back to my former state of needing to cook much when I landed another job.

But instead of cooking a lot and then simply eating the leftovers, I had a new solution that worked well with my belief in showing love through food:     5     Several of my friends lived alone, didn’t like cooking or had lost jobs too, so bringing them food helped not only me but also them in a practical way.

Such a small act can bring large amounts of joy to anyone in these hard times. And in unfavorable situations, it’s an act that allows us to develop friendship and show love while we must, still, remain apart.

7 . We need art in our homes. Here are four reasons you should know about art.

Your home is “your place,” and that’s why decorating it to your liking is so important.

Plus, from a functional design standpoint, art acts as a focal point, makes a room appear finished, and immediately shows off your interests and ideals to visitors.    2    

Without needing words, art can be the perfect way to express who you are to both yourself and others. Why?    3     And, when you love a piece enough to hang it on your wall, that story speaks volumes about you.

Whether it’s your personality or what you value in life, art can be the perfect translator. This lets you form deeper connections with those who come into your home.

    4     That’s why we follow Instagram accounts of artists. It is inspiring to see someone both creating and devoting their time to what gives them the most joy in life. By pursuing these passions, they inspire us to do the same.

A piece of art can produce powerful emotions when we look at it. Art can cheer us up after a bad day, make us remember, or inspire us to do more in life. It can provide comfort that we are not the only ones feeling a certain way. It also provides a reflection back to us that enables us to chew on our own reactions, emotions, and thoughts.

I’ll admit it. I can be a complainer. After all, there’s so much in this life to complain about: the dirty clothes that don’t make it into the basket, that annoying neighbor’s loud music, my husband’s shoes spread out at the front door, rainy days, traffic...

Complaining is a habit I cultivated since childhood, a skill I developed through the years. My parents didn’t seem to mind—they were great complainers, too—though I do recall some eye-rolling and long-drawn sighs from friends and schoolmates when I would voice my negative opinions. In fact, I can distinctly recall the exact moment when I first realized my complaining habit reached its expert level.

One day, as I reminded ray husband once again to remove his bills from the dining-room table, put his shoes away, and lower that bothersome radio, he put up his hand.“Stop! You’re your complaining. It’s driving me crazy.”

I looked at him blank-eyed.

He took a deep breath. “You never hear me complaining, do you?”

“Well,” I answered, “you’re complaining about my complaining, so actually, yes, I am hearing you complain right now.”

His eyes widened. A drop of sweat formed his upper lip. Then he grabbed his car keys and ran out of the door.

Perhaps I’d gone too far, I thought. Maybe I really did complain too much. But, what to do about it? After all, it had been a lifetime habit. And habits are hard to break.

I took a break and sat down to think about solution. When I felt annoyed, I could lock myself in the bathroom and scream. No. The neighbors would probably hear me. Phone a friend? She probably wouldn’t be a friend for very long. Then it hit me.

I’d been in the habit of keeping a journal for most of my life. It provided a sort of timeline for me，and I liked to review past entries occasionally to review the path I had been on at that point. Journaling kept me honest with myself, and I liked it for that reason. Perhaps, I though, a complaint journal might be the answer I was seeking.

That day, I decided to give it a try.

Besides the improved relationship with my husband, I saw other effects soon.            .